Front, 18", Profile 2, 5 Lugs, Anthracite- Rear, 18", Profile 2, 5 Lugs, Anthracite
Ford Performance Dark Horse R Mustang Challenge Series Wheels
Shop Apex Forged Dark Horse R Racing Program Mustang Challenge Series wheels built for the track
Finish: Anthracite
Total
$2,956.00Overview
Dark Horse R Wheel Performance
Chosen and validated by Ford Performance to be the official wheel on Dark Horse R Race Car competing in the IMSA Mustang Challenge Series, the 18x11" VS-5RE offers unmatched strength to keep you in the race lap after lap.
VS-5RE Specifications
VS-5RE features
Our Strongest Wheels
Most motorsport wheel designs prioritize reducing weight over increasing strength, but some applications require extra strength. High grip tires and lots of downforce put extra strain on wheels. Pair that with a faster driver and regular load ratings are not enough. The VS-5RE is about 30% stronger than the RS version.
Wheel Weight (lbs)
Load Rating (lbs)
Flow Formed
21.0
1550
Sprint Line
18.6
1600
Enduro Line
21.1
2100
Stiffer Spokes
Wheel stiffness matters but it gets overlooked and undiscussed. The redesigned spokes of the VS-5RE are about 25% stiffer than the Sprint Line version. Stiffer spokes help reduce camber loss, which reduces outer edge tire wear and improves feel and responsiveness.
Stiffness
Enduro
Sprint
Toughest Inner Lip
Introducing the Enduro spec inner lip - our strongest ever. With 50% more reinforcement, these wheels are better-protected against the harsh conditions found on and off track.
50%
More reinforcement
than a standard inner lip
Reinforced Front Lip
We added extra material in the front lip for more durability so you can keep attacking those berms. You can easily spot the beefed up design of an Enduro lip vs. the lightweight lip on a Sprint Line wheel.
10K Tons of Pressure
To make our forged wheels the strongest we can, we applied as much pressure as possible using a 10,000 ton forge. This extreme pressure increases the strength of the aluminum by eliminating porosity and improving the grain structure.
True Motorsport Blanks
Many companies use 3rd-party blanks intended for non-motorsport wheels which can severely limit sizes, concavity, spoke design, and critical brake clearance. We designed our very own blank profiles from scratch to give us total control over the final product.
Side-Milled Spokes
One of the most prominent features of the VS-5RE is the extra wide and deep side-milled spokes. Any excess material that doesn’t add strength is machined out using a precision CNC ball cutter. This allows our endurance wheels to be surprisingly light for their strength. Side-milling is often deemed cost-prohibitive by others, but for true performance without compromise we believe it's essential.
Weight Optimized
We conducted extensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to reinforce high-stress areas and to remove material where it didn’t improve strength. The result is a significantly stronger wheel with a minimal weight penalty over their RS counterparts.
Independently Tested
We don't rely solely on computer simulations or unverifiable in-house testing. We believe independent testing is critical to protect consumers in this unregulated industry. Our Enduro Line wheels are independently tested by ITS at their Michigan facility following JWL standards but pushed to much higher loads and much longer durations.
Big Brake Clearance
From day one, Apex has been on a mission to build wheels that clear big brakes. These Enduro Line wheels are the product of everything we’ve developed over the past 15+ years. We utilize 3D scans to produce vehicle-specific spoke profiles, and our wheels feature an innovative high-clearance barrel design.
Deeper Concavity
Our new forgings were redesigned to create extra deep, concave spoke profiles. Their new shape allows us to make any profile, from flat to deep and everything in between, each optimized for a specific application using 3D laser scans of factory and aftermarket brake kits.
Paintless Knurled Bead
Whether it’s a day at the track or months of street driving, repeated hard braking and acceleration can make a tire slip along the bead seat and go out of balance, causing vibration. Knurled beads help, but are less effective when painted over. Our forged line features unpainted knurled beads that stay sharp and maximize grip.
Paintless Barrel
To be as light as possible, and to reduce rotational inertia, we removed paint from the outer barrel. It’s only a fraction of a pound but it’s in an area that has the biggest impact on acceleration and deceleration, so it packs a bigger punch vs. the same weight savings near the center of the wheel. These small tweaks add up.
Capless Hub Design
We know most track day organizations ask for center caps to be removed. To further reduce weight that doesn’t directly correlate to strength, we incorporated a capless hub design on all Enduro Line wheels in our pursuit of Real Performance.
Built for Impact Sockets
Track wheels need track tools. Don’t settle for wheels that require undersized tuner lugs or thin walled sockets. All Apex wheels accommodate over-sized race lugs and impact sockets to make swapping wheels lightning fast.
32mm
Socket Diameter Clearance
Outer Lip Pocketing
A lot of areas get extra thick when the load rating is raised to 2100 lb. By CNC machining ‘pockets’ between each spoke, our Engineers were able to further reduce weight from an area that has a high impact on rotational inertia.
Laser-Engraved Specs
As track enthusiasts ourselves, we know how frustrating it is to locate and decipher wheel specs that have been hastily marked on a wheel or become unreadable over time. Our Enduro wheels have laser-engraved specs on the barrel, in plain sight, making them easy to find and read.
A Wheel You Can Depend On
Accidental damage replacement
Curb rash or pothole damage on the street? Make an oopsie at the track? We’ve all been there. APEX is proud to offer 50% off replacement wheels, no matter the damage.
Lifetime warranty
All APEX wheels come with a lifetime structural warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, plus a 1 year finish warranty. Exchanges are fast, easy, and hassle-free.
* All wheels compared with equivalent 18x10” ET25 5x120mm / 72.56mm fitment
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